When it came time to choose a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade helping others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been trying to find simply a device– I was searching for a correct companion Beehiiv For Authors.
Which’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I believed that also initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to claim– both the victories and the odd quirks. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the ideal system for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a device that could really help expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it anymore.
So I started contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was taking a look at this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin revealing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact own your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can’t export them. You’re basically renting an audience you can never totally get to.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only switch on if the place chooses to allow the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And afterwards there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development tools, and no system fees (other than the normal Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system typically feels like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No crises. Linking my custom-made domain name? A couple of minor missteps, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Also, their assistance material– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv For Authors
Now below’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however do not expect it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome sequences based on just how somebody subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative setting– dabbling with sections, utilizing different landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– just to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this may seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, layout, preview– it seems like it was developed by somebody who’s in fact written a newsletter or 2.
But default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message might get chopped in half if you’re not mindful. I learned this the hard way– then decreased a bunny hole of testing tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email audience
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual procedure, yet it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv about adding far better dimension warnings. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Actually Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction considering that changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 new clients to a quite niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal much easier.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s more: their ad network is user-friendly and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brand names in a way that does not really feel icky or compelled. It’s integrated revenue potential, ordinary and basic Beehiiv For Authors.
And when I prepare to release a premium subscription? I know precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without hanging awkward boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to succeed. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you hit an unusual pest or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too standard.
Email dimension tracking needs far better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best choice.
Conclusion
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or simply tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re looking to expand quickly without paying system tax obligation
You desire something that feels constructed by makers, for creators
Will it solve every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me expand faster, gain much more, and stress and anxiety much less concerning the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact scale your e-newsletter with real tools that value your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Give it a spin. You simply may fall in love like I did.